Automotive
Service
Make the shift. Start your career servicing and repairing today's motor vehicles. Earn a recognized trade certificate as you train on real customer cars in our fully equipped automotive repair shop.
Median wage
per hour †
Job openings predicted ‡
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Programs
| Program Name | Program Credential | Program Tuition* | Program Length | Next start date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FULL - TIME | ||||
| Automotive Parts and Service Management Automotive Parts and Service Management | Diploma | $22,907 | 2 years | Jan, Sep |
| Automotive Service Technician Apprentice Automotive Service Technician Apprentice | Apprenticeship | Per level | 715 weeks | Jan, Sep |
| Automotive Service Technician Harmonized Foundation Automotive Service Technician Harmonized Foundation | Certificate | $4,106 | 40 weeks | Jan, May, Sep |
| Transportation Trades Sampler Transportation Trades Sampler | Short Certificate | $1,520 | 300 hours | Feb |
|
PART - TIME | ||||
Individual courses
Auto Tech Apprentice (ATAP)
Need help with tuition?
Explore your options for scholarships, grants, bursaries, loans and entrance awards.
Learn morehttp://www.vcc.ca/applying/registration-services/financial-aid/
Why VCC
Hands-on training
Students work in small teams that simulate the workplace, servicing 60-80 customer vehicles each month. With 32 hoists, VCC’s automotive service shop is one of the largest garages in B.C. and features the latest diagnostic equipment and training aids.
Industry reputation
Thanks to nearly 70 years working with the local automotive industry, VCC attracts the region’s top instructors. All full-time instructors have Red Seal certification and a minimum 10 years of industry experience.
Flexible training
It’s now easier than ever to earn your trade certificate while continuing to work in the automotive industry. Options like E-pprentice allow students who are already employed in the industry to take portions of their training online, thus limiting their time away from the job.
Frequently asked questions
Automotive service technicians like to know how things work, even if that means taking them apart piece by piece. They like to move around, work with their hands, use different kinds of tools, and solve complex problems with the latest computers and technology.
- Automotive tune-up specialist
- Brake and alignment technician
- Car, truck, and van mechanic
- Transmission technician
- Vehicle electronics technician
No. Apprenticeships can be started during high school, after graduation, or at any point in your career. VCC offers pre-apprenticeship training (foundation) programs in many in-demand trades. Apprentices must find an employer to sponsor and train them as they complete the higher apprenticeship levels.
An apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and classroom learning that leads to a Certificate of Qualification (CoQ), or “ticket” for your trade that is recognized by employers across B.C. Apprentices spend about 80 per cent of their time on the job. That means you earn money while you learn. Most apprenticeships take four years to complete.
The Red Seal program provides an interprovincial endorsement of excellence in the skilled trades. A Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) is a stamp of approval on the competence of a tradesperson and is recognized by employers across Canada, without further examination. Skilled tradespersons obtain an RSE on their provincial trades certificates by successfully completing an interprovincial Red Seal examination.
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* All tuition amounts listed are subject to change without notice. Should tuition amounts increase, students are required to pay the increased rates. Additional fees may apply.
Tuition amounts listed are for domestic fee payers. Tuition for international students will vary.
† Source: 2016 Job Bank Wage Report
‡ Source: B.C. 2025 Labour Market Outlook